This safety lesson describes how experienced Queensland prawn trawl fisher, Tony Sterling, developed an inpull winch that pulls in both sides of the trawl gear at the same time. The winch has delivered major safety benefits because crew no longer need to go out onto the booms.

A deficiency notice uses codes to show non-compliance found during a Port State control (PSC) inspection.

Our search and rescue incidents from 2013–14.

The 273rd meeting of the Board was held on Wednesday, 25 June 2025 in Canberra, ACT.

The 274th meeting of the Board was held on Wednesday, 13 August 2025, in Fremantle, Western Australia.

A hire vessel capsized after it was beached on a sandbank in a designated no-go area. The incident shows why hirers and participants must follow safety briefings and emergency plans.

NOPSEMA has been working with state authorities to improve and streamline consultation practices within the offshore petroleum industry, and provide advice on regulatory requirements for offshore petroleum activities.

This marine notice highlights shipowners, operators, masters and crews obligation to ensure safe working arrangements are in place for any work involving a ship’s elevator.

How to calculate your sea service in trailer hopper suction dredgers operating in ports, inshore and in limited near coastal areas.

If you hold a valid STCW certificate issued by another country and want to work on an Australian-flagged vessel, you need a certificate of recognition (CoR). In some countries this is called a recognition endorsement.

In this edition we talk about Draft instruction for ultrasonic thickness measurement for metallic vessels, Transitional requirements, Proposed changes to SAGM Pt 2 Stability booklets and more

A lone cray fisher was heading for shelter during poor weather. He had been working for 17 hours without rest. While nearing the planned anchor point, the master fell asleep at the helm and the vessel continued on, running aground on the rocky shoreline.

The type of EPIRB you need depends on vessel class, length, flotation and operating area.

On the evening of 29 May 2022, a commercial fishing vessel was on a voyage from Mackay to Cairns when the master noticed an auxiliary engine alarm. Upon lifting the engine room hatch, the master saw smoke and an orange glow and the engine room subsequently caught fire. The master quickly made the decision that they would not be able to fight the fire without jeopardising their safety and abandoned ship. An SMS risk assessment on appropriate crewing on a voyage greater than 12 hours duration should be undertaken in these situations.

A contractor working on a vessel fell into the water whilst disembarking due to the gap between the wharf and the vessel.  A safe means of access to the vessel was not provided.

If you own or operate a domestic commercial vessel in Australia, you are required to obtain a certificate of operation before you operate the vessel.